Ovie Carroll

"I love exposing students to how exciting digital investigative analysis is," Ovie says. Ovie's students are clearly getting what he's bringing - many of them finish his classes with renewed career plans. "They leave my class saying that they originally had no intention of going into digital evidence but now see it is more exciting than any other aspect of cybercrime fighting or incident response," he says.

Ovie's teaching philosophy centers on sharing and demonstrating his passion for digital investigative analysis. Drawing on 36 years of law enforcement and cyber investigation experience, his dynamic presentations not only deliver the technical material but also show how each digital artifact can be used to help solve cases.

Ovie's career in digital forensics has its roots in his years-long interest in computers - how they work and how they can and are being used in everyday life. Of particular interest is how companies are collecting, manipulating, analyzing, and monetizing people's every behavior online. "I am always interested in investigating how we can possibly tap into the information computers and companies are collecting to use it for good and to bring justice to victims," he explains.

In addition to teaching digital forensics at SANS and co-authoring the FOR500 Windows Forensic Analysis course, he also taught two classes as an adjunct professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC., and is a faculty member of the SANS Technology Institute, an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and multiple winner of the National Cyber League competition.

As a Special Agent in Charge he oversaw the Technical Crimes Unit of the Postal Inspector General's Office, where he was responsible for all computer intrusion investigations within the postal service network infrastructure and for providing all digital forensic analysis in support of criminal investigations and audits. He also served as a special agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, investigating computer intrusions and working both general crimes and counterintelligence as well as conducting investigations into offenses including murder, rape, fraud, bribery, theft, and gangs and narcotics.

Computers are front and center in Ovie's free time as well, but he also enjoys plenty of offline activities, including public speaking, scuba diving, travel, and meeting new people.

ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY OVIE CARROLL:

Virtual Connect: Protecting Yourself Against Cybercrime with Ovie Carroll